Low incidence of adenocarcinoma and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia in patients with Barrett’s esophagus: a prospective cohort study

Background and study aims: Barrett’s esophagus is a premalignant condition. The risk of developing high grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) or adenocarcinoma is currently a matter of debate. Due to several shortcomings, previous studies have probably overestimated the risk. The main aim of our study was to investigate the incidence of HGD and adenocarcinoma in a cohort of patients with Barrett’s esophagus.

Patients and methods: In a prospective, cohort study, all patients had intestinal metaplasia and macroscopic evidence of short- or long-segment (< 3 cm or ≥ 3cm) Barrett’s esophagus. All patients underwent a standard protocol including regular endoscopies with biopsies and were treated with a proton pump inhibitor or antireflux surgery.

Results: A total of 135 patients underwent 623 endoscopies during 700 patient-years (mean follow-up 5.2 ± 2.3 years). Simultaneous HGIN and adenocarcinoma were detected in two patients with long-segment Barrett’s esophagus (1.5 %; 2 and 6 years after the index endoscopy). Low grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN) was detected in 25 patients (18.5 %); in 11 of these patients (44 %), LGIN was not confirmed in later biopsies. Our study shows an incidence of HGIN/adenocarcinoma of 1/350 patient-years. Endoscopic regression of Barrett’s esophagus was seen in 20.7 % of patients.

Conclusion: The incidence of HGIN/adenocarcinoma is low in patients with adequately treated Barrett’s esophagus. The annual risk of developing HGIN/adenocarcinoma is 0.21 % (1.6 % in long-segment Barrett’s esophagus).

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